Adjustable shoulder-strap stay



July 10, 1928. 1,611,109

I. KORPER- ADJUSTABLE SHOULDER. STRAP STAY Filed Jan. 6, 1926 INVENTOR ISAAC KDRPEH l g gg Patented July 10, 1928.

ISAAC xonrnn, or new YORK, n. Y..

ADJ USTAlBLE SHOULDER-STRAP STAY.

Application filed January 16, 1926. SerialiNo. 81,641.

It is now for the most part customary in connection with torso covering underclot-hing for women to provide the same with shoulder straps usually in the form of a tape or ribbon, these under arments usually terminating well under e arms to leave the shoulders and upper portion of the torso practically unclothed. There are many occasions when an outer garmentdoesnt require the full extent of exposure otherwise permitted by an undergarment. Also, in the case of some women, theannoyance of shoulder straps slipping off the shoulders is not to be tolerated, even if some deliberately applied means for, preventing this annoyance be worn. It isforcombination with shoulder straps of this character on undergarments such as slips, chemises, camisoles and vests, that this invention is intended, and "it is purposed that it fulfill the needof staying these shoulder straps. against accidentally slipping off the shoulders under each or both of the conditions of possible use enumerated. i 'lhe object ofthe invention is to facilitate the adjustable staying of shoulder straps of the type described in the best manner possible, more specifically it is the object of the invention to provide for independent vertical adjustment of staying means upon each shoulder strap in such a way that no mark or other injury shall be made on the strap and yet in such a way that a pair of clasps shall maintain their attachment to a pair of shoulder straps regardless of whether or not they are being positively gripped in vertical position or are in the act of being adjusted into various trial vertical positions. A still further object is to provide for complete adjustability of the stay both as to vertical position for its needs and as to the effective length of tension means joining the two clasps one, to the other.

The above and further objects of the invention will be pointed out more in detail in the following claims which should be read in connection with the illustrative embodiment of the invention described in the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. This reference to the illustrative embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and not limitation, although a preferred form of the invention is shown.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the invention in use;

Fig. 2 is afrontelevat-ion of the left-hand clasp functioning in use;

Fig. 3 is a view of theyclasp of Fig. 2 taken in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same clasp open.

, A pair of ordinary shoulder straps 1 are shown as they are usually coordinated upon a wearer for the purpose of holding up an undergarment 2. My adjustable shoulder strap stay A is shown in its application in Fig.1. It comprises a tension member 3, preferably in the form of ornamental. ribbon or tape secured at its opposite ends to a pair of my special clasps 4, but preferably in such a way that it is adjustable in length. It is convenient of accomplishment by making the end 5 fast to its-clasp 4, butproviding a bi ght 6 on the other end riven through the bale 7 and adjustable on the member 3 bynieans of a buckle 7.

I prefer that both clasps 4 be, identical although it is not essential, provided that each clasp have the special features of'gripping adjusti'nent about to be described.

Each clasp 4 in addition to its attaching bale 7 comprises a base portion 8, to which is secured by means of the hinge 9, the gripper portion 10, provided at its free end with a friction gripper preferably in the form of a ball 11. A spiral spring 1'12 serves normally to spring press the ball into firm frictional engagement with one or more of the shoulder straps 1.

The base member 8 extends forward beyond the gripper member 10 upward and rearwardly to form a definite hook 13, preferably of such format-ion that its outer face 14 extends flush with the outer face 15 of the gripper portion when the clasp is in operation. If desired, an ornamental design 16 may be featured upon its exposed outer face so as to disguise the parting 17 between the hook portion and the gripper portion. In fact. it is preferred that each clasp he made highly ornamental.

The functioning of my stay is of importance. It may be attached, as shown in the drawings, to the straps of the nndergarment before the undergarment is donned, and adjusted so as to occupy a relatively low position, even lower than that shown in Fig. 1. This facilitates the proper positioning of the shoulder strap 1. Then after the undergarment 2 has been fully adjusted, it is but a simple manipulation to cause first one and then the other of the clasps 4 to ride up or down merely by a slight down pressure of the. thumb ,on the lever end 19, which releases the gripper 11 but does not release the clasp from the shoulder strap 1. The clasp is still firmly anchored to the shoulder strap by the hook portion 13, in which the edge 20 of a shoulder strap runs quite freely. As soon as the desired position for the clasp has been reached, the thumb releases the lever 19and the friction gripper 11 holds the clas) in the adjusted position. I consider this quite important. If my clasp entirely released the shoulder strap when the functioning of the gripper spring was relieved, it would require two hands to reattach itto a shoulder strap, whereas with my invention the adjustment is a one-handed one and it is simple and easy. I further greatly prefer that the clasp be arranged so that injury to a shoulder strap cannot be made. This I accomplish by the parts previousl described.

It s iould be noted that even though more than one undergarment having shoulder straps be worn, my stay will secure and hold two or more pairs of shoulder straps as well as one pair. My book formation automatically aligns the plurality of straps so that the one gripper can serve to hold them all.

Of course, various materials may be used for my clasps and various designs be employed without a departure from my invention. i

What I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable shoulder strap stay comprising a pair of elongated horizontally spaced clasps in con'ibination with a tension member adapted to connect the inner ends of saidclasps and adapted together with said clasps to function horizontally across the back of the wearer, each of said clasps comprising a base portion adapted to lie flat against the back of the wearer, a hook formation at the outer end of said base portion, a spring pressed gripper portion overlying said base portion and being substantially parallel therewith and closely spaced therefrom and being hinged and proportioned together with the other parts to provide a free cross-runway for a shoulder" strap, a smooth rounded formation on the inside outer end of said gripper and being substantially non-abrasive to grip the shoulder strap sutliciently to prevent said clasp from sliding down on the shoulder strap, and also functioning to hold said shoulder strap flat within said runway, said hook formation itself functioning solely with its inner face to prevent the spreading of said shoulder straps.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by the fact that said hook portion and said gripper portion are fashioned to present a substantially flush outer surface which is substantially parallel with the said base portion.

ISAAC KORPER. 

